Momentous events swept the Spanish colonies in the late nineteenth century,

including the Philippines. Journalist of the time referred to the phrase “EL Grito de
Rebellion” or “Cry of Rebellion” Page | 45 to mark the start of these revolutionary events,
identifying the places where it happened. In the Philippines. This happened in August 1896,
northeast of Manila, where they declared rebellion against the Spanish colonial government.
These events are important markers in the history of colonies that struggled for their
independence against their colonizers.

The controversy regarding this event stems from the identification of the date and
place where the Cry happened. Prominent Filipino historian Teodoro Agoncillo emphasizes
the event when Bonifacio tore the cedula or tax receipt before the katipuneros who also did
the same. Some writers identified the first military event with the Spaniards as the moment of
the Cry, for which, Emilio Aguinaldo commissioned an “Himno de Balintawak” to inspire the
renewed struggle after the Pact of the Biak-na-Bato failed. A monument to the Heroes of
1896 was erected in what is now the intersection of Epifanio de los Santos (EDSA) Avenue
and Andres Bonifacio Drive-North Diversion road, and from then on until 1962, the Cry of
Balintawak was celebrated every 26th of August. The site of the monument was chosen for
unknown reason.

Different Dates and Places of the Cry

▸ A guardia civil, Lt. Olegario Diaz Balintawak, 25 August 1896

▸ Filipino historian, Teodoro Kalaw Kangkong, Balintawak , August 1896

▸ A Katipunero and son of Mariano Alvarez Bahay Toro in Quezon City, 24 August
1896

▸ A Katipunero, Pio Valenzuela Pugad Lawin, 23 August 1896

▸ Filipino historian, Gregorio Zaide Balintawak, 26 August 1896

▸ Filipino historian, Teodoro Agoncillo Pugad Lawin, 23 August 1896

▸ Filipino hisrorian, Milagros Guererro, Gulod, Brgy Banlat, Quezon City, 24 August
1896 Emmanuel Encarnacion, and Ramon Villegas
Accounts of the Cry:

Guillermo Masangkay’s Cry of Balintawak

On August 26th, a big meeting was held in Balintawak, at the house of Apolonio
Samson, then cabeza of that barrio of Caloocan. Among those who attended, I remember,
were Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Aguedo del Rosario, Tomas Romigio, Briccio Pantas,
Teodoro Plata, Pio Valenzuela, Enrique Pacheco, and Francisco Carreon. They were all
leaders of the Katipunan and composed the board of directors of the organization. Delegates
from Bulacan, Cabanatuan, Cavite. And Morong were also present.

At about nine o’clock in the morning of August 26, the meeting was opened with
Andres Bomifacio presiding and Emilio Jacinto acting as secretary. The purpose was to
discuss when the uprising was to take place. Teodoro Plata, Briccio Pantas, and Pio
Valenzuela were all opposed to starting the revolution too early… Andres Bonifacio, sensing
that he would lose in the discussions then, left the session hall and talked to the people, who
were waiting outside for the result of the meeting of the leaders.

He told the people that the leaders were arguing against the starting the revolution
early, and appealed to them in a fiery speech in which he said: “You remember the fate of our
countrymen who were shot in Bagumbayan. Should we return now to the towns, the
Spaniards will only shoot us. Page | 46 Our organization has been discovered and we are all
marked men. If we don’t start the uprising, the Spaniards will get us anyway. What then, so
you say?”

“Revolt!” the people shouted as one. Bonifacio then asked the people to give a pledge
that they were to revolt. He told them that the sign of slavery of the Filipinos were (sic) the
cedula tax charged each citizen. “If it is true that you are ready to revolt… I want to see you
destroy your cedulas. It will be a sign that all of us have declared our severance from the
Spaniards.”

Pio Valenzuela’s Cry of Pugad Lawin

The first place of refuge of Andres Bonifacio, Emilio Jacinto, Procopio Bonifacio,
Teodoro Plata, Aguedo del Rosario, and myself was Balintawak, the first arriving there on
August 19, and I, on August 20, 1896. The first place where some 500 members of the
Katipunan met on August 22, 1896 was the house and yard of Apolonio Samson at
Kangkong.

Aside from the persons mentioned above, among those who were there were Briccio
Pantas, Alejandro Santiago, Ramon Bernardo, Apolonio Samson, and others. Here, views
were only exchanged, and no resolution was debated or adopted . It was at Pugad Lawin, the
house, storehouse, and yard of Juan Ramos son of Melchora Aquino, where over 1,000
members of the Katipunan met and carried out considerable debate and discussion on August
23, 1896.
 The discussion was on whether or not the revolution against the Spanish government
should be started on August 29, 1896… After the tumultuous meeting, many of those present
tore their cedula certificates and shouted “Long live the Philippines! Long live the
Philippines!”

From the eyewitness accounts presented, there is indeed marked disagreement among
historical witnesses as to the place and time of the occurrence of the Cry. Using sources, four
places have been identified: Balintawak, Kangkong, Pugad Lawin and Bahay Toro, while the
dates vary: 23, 24,25, or August 26, 1896.

Valenzuela’s account should be read with caution: He once told a Spanish investigator
that the “Cry” happened in Balintawak on Wednesday 26 August 1896. Much later, he wrote
in his Memoirs of the Revolution that it happened at Pugad Lawin on 23 August 1896. Such
inconsistencies in accounts should always be seen as a red flag when dealing with primary
sources.

According to Guerrero, Encarnacion, and Villegas, all these places are in Balintawak,
then part of Caloocan, now, in Quezon City. As for the dates, Bonifacio and his troops may
have been moving from one place to another to avoid being located by the Spanish
government, which could explain why there are several accounts of the Cry.